Take a look at these 'real' images of friendly Hummingbirds.

She has been studying Hummers for quite some time as she and her husband live in a Hummingbird Fly Zone.

She took out a red dish filled with sugar water and low and behold, even got to touch them. Light as a feather, she claims.

Click on the images to enlarge.

Some of the Species

Did you know that there are over 330 species in the Western Hemisphere, with 16 species nesting in the US and southern Canada?

• Ruby-throated, east of the Rockies
• Costa's Blue-throated, broad-billed, in the southwest United States
• Rufous and Black-chinned, in the west United States
• Anna's, along the Pacific Coast

Attracting Hummingbirds

Attracting Hummers to your yard is easier than you might think. This spring as I was watering my Nicotiana a Ruby-throated Hummingbird rested itself right beside me...fluttering away...for what must have been at least 30 seconds. Long enough for me to once again become fascinated with these hungry hummers.

Arriving from the tropics to the prairies by mid May, these hummers are starving so a mixture of sugar water is always sure to please. Make sure to keep the solution fresh as Hummers won't stay around long with spoiled food.

Of all of the birds, only the hummers are able to fly up, down, sideways, backward or remain stationary as they suck nectar from a flower.

To make Hummingbird Nectar

• dissolve one part white sugar in four parts boiling water
• fill your feeder(s) only 1/4 full until the birds discover your feeder(s)
• refrigerate the rest of the solution
• change the solution often as it ferments within 2 to 3 days in hot weather
• remember to clean the feeder(s) several times. I clean mine every time I put in a new solution, especially if it's hot weather as the feeder(s) can get moldy
• by keeping the feeder(s) clean, you also discourage the wasps and bees that can fly about, especially for us in late August
• place feeder(s) in a sheltered, shady location

Female Hummers require extra protein and other nutrients so they also munch on those pesky gnats, aphids and spiders that lurk on your plants.

Plants That Attract Hummers

Besides incorporating plants within your flower beds for the Hummingbirds, remember that containers, window boxes and hanging baskets (in front of your kitchen window) make great enticements.

Hummingbirds have no sense of smell so they are not attracted to the most fragrant flowers but rather to their color and tubular blossoms to accommodate their long needle beaks. They are most attracted to blooms that hang downward since they hover as they eat.

• pots/window boxes filled with Red Impatiens or Begonias
• Nicotiana or the Tobacco Plant as it is sometimes called
• Snapdragons
• of course the hanging Fuchsia baskets
• Petunias
• Daisy Becky
• Nasturtiums
• Coral Bells
• Butterfly Bush
• Begonia
• Bee Balm/Monarda
• Coreopsis Moonbeam
• Penstemon
• Phlox Rubymine
• Virgina Creeper Vine
• Salvias
• Sedum Autumn Joy
• Trumpet Vine

A Hummingbird Flower Garden

If you just have a small space, like a sunny corner spot why not try planting just a few perennials to attract the lovely hummers. For instance here are 7 plants that would make a great combination Hummingbird Garden:

• As the back ground center plant one Butterfly Bush or (Buddleja 'Nanho Blue')
• To the right of the Butterfly Bush plant three Daisies the 'Becky' variety.
• To the left of the Butterfly Bush plant three Penstemon, 'Husker Red' variety.

Remember, no solider rows, stagger the Daisies and Penstemon like you are drawing the letter V.

Next plant the following 4 perennials in front of the above again using the V planting method. See diagram.

• In front of the Penstemon plant three Phlox Rubymine variety.
• In front of the Phlox plant three Monarda 'Petite Delight' variety.
• Beside the Monarda, plant three Coreopsis 'Moonbeam' variety.
• Behind the Moonbeam and in front of the Becky Daisy, plant the Sedum, Autumn Joy.

The above number of plants would fill approximately a 6 ft. by 10 ft. area. The links to the suggested perennials are listed above.

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